MatchLiverpool v Bournemouth: Team news
Jürgen Klopp is unsure whether Wataru Endo will make his Liverpool debut against AFC Bournemouth.
The Japan captain became the Reds’ third signing of the summer on Friday and was due to train with his new teammates for the first time shortly after his transfer from VfB Stuttgart was finalised, subject to international clearance and work permit application.
And during his pre-match press conference, Jürgen Klopp said: “OK, Endo is now in and he's allowed to train this afternoon. If he’s allowed to participate in the game tomorrow, I don’t know, we will see that.”
Klopp reported no fresh fitness concerns ahead of Saturday’s meeting with the Cherries at Anfield but confirmed that, while they are progressing well, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic remain unavailable.
“Stefan Bajcetic, really close but not there yet. Obviously we really count on him,” the boss stated.
“Thiago Alcantara the same – slightly similar profile, obviously much more experienced as well, but not there yet. So, we need to just give them time. We cannot rush that.
“That all will look completely different after the international break but until then we have super-important games.”
Bournemouth, meanwhile, will be able to call on Lloyd Kelly, who missed their season-opening draw with West Ham United through injury, but Lewis Cook and Dango Ouattara will not travel to Merseyside.
Head coach Andoni Iraola told the media on Friday: “I think on the whole, we’re the same on the injury front. The only one to recover from the weekend is Lloyd Kelly, he’s trained with us in the last three or four sessions and will be available.
“The rest of the team is the same. Dango Ouattara will be more weeks, he was still in a boot so I won’t be expecting him back soon.
“Lewis Cook we’ll look at on a more week-to-week basis, he hasn’t been training so won’t be ready for tomorrow.
“Marcos Senesi is training well, he came off with cramp as it was the first game of the season and the same happened with Max Aarons too so it’s quite normal, they’re not injured.”
Last match
Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool (August 13): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Diaz, Jota, Salah.
Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham United (August 12): Neto, Aarons, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez, Billing, Rothwell, Brooks, Christie, Anthony, Solanke.